Arsenal denied Emirates Cup after Martin Atkinson deems this foul on Chuba Akpom to be outside the penalty area

Arsenal were controversially denied the Emirates Cup after a penalty blunder from referee Martin Atkinson.

The Gunners, who were trailing 1-0 from a Radamel Falcao header in the first half, thought they had been handed a chance to equalise ten minutes from time when substitute Chuba Akpom was brought down in the box by Monaco’s goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.

However, after initially pointing to the spot, Atkinson changed his mind after a word from his assistant, although replays clearly showed Akpom was a yard inside the area when contact was made.

Alexis Sanchez was handed his first start in a Gunners shirt, but despite some lively movement and touches, couldn’t conjure the magic to give Arsenal the point they needed to claim their own pre-season tournament.